For The 5th Avenue Theatre Awards, Sequim High students and actors for “Legally Blonde,” from left, Damon Little, Maggie van Dyken, and Maddy Dietzman performed on June 3 during the show. Sequim’s operetta received five nominations. Photo courtesy of Linda Dowdell

Follow-ups: Sequim teens rep ‘Legally Blonde’ at Seattle awards

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Sequim high schoolers takes Seattle stage

A few weeks after finishing their run of Sequim High’s operetta “Legally Blonde,” three high schoolers got the chance to take the main stage as part of The 5th Avenue Theatre Awards on June 3.

Maddy Dietzman, Damon Little, vice-president for the Sequim High Operetta Club, and club president Maggie van Dyken performed with hundreds of other students in Seattle at the 17th-annual show honoring high school musicals across Washington state during the 2018-2019 school year.

Sequim’s operetta ,based on the 2001 movie but staged as a musical, received five nominations, including Dietzman as Elle Woods for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Little in multiple roles for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Featured Ensemble Role, the show’s stagehands for Outstanding Stage Crew and two Honorable Mentions for Outstanding Music Direction and Orchestra.

Sequim didn’t win any awards, but its operettas and students have been nominated dozens of times. Little received an honorable mention last year for “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role.

This year, “Legally Blonde” was one of 128 shows evaluators saw at 106 schools. It was Sequim High’s 53rd operetta during the Sequim Irrigation Festival.

Brendan Chambers served as director, Maggie Bulkley as assistant director and Linda Dowdell as music director.

“The cast was so believable (and) it was so great to hear so much laughter,” Dowdell said.

She said she was particularly proud that the show’s orchestra included student this year, and that the crew worked so hard behind the scenes.

Sequim High’s Maddy Dietzman, third from right, performs with other high school actresses during a portion of The 5th Avenue Theatre Awards on June 3 where those nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role sing together. Photo courtesy of Linda Dowdell